As a child in South Dakota, I always knew spring had arrived when Mom let us take off our hated long stockings with the equally hated garter belt and it seemed to often coincide with my hearing the first song of the meadowlark on Grandma’s fence as we walked along to school. Usually we heard him sing before we would see him, sitting on the fence post or high up on the telephone pole. His bright yellow vest and perky black “tie” just seemed to make my whole day radiant.

Yes, I knew spring had arrived even if we still had spring storms and the green leaves on the elder trees in our front yard lacked the courage to come out yet, I could always depend on the meadowlark to surprise me. It was somehow reassuring to know that with the first sighting of the meadowlark, I knew soon a robin would follow, lilacs would be in bloom and the bulbs that Mom and Grandma had so lovingly planted last fall would poke their little shoots out of the wet, cold soil.

As a child, the sameness of the seasons were boring, I had always wanted to see new things, go new places. But as an adult, those same seasons were a source of comfort and reassurance wherever I was.

As I had relied on the meadowlark to announce the coming of spring, I always counted on my Mom and Dad’s love through all the years of my wanderings. Her letters contained simple news of home, who came to visit, even the weather, but always they ended with “Love and prayers, Mom and Dad.”

It was the simple comfort of those closing words which brought stability to my often confusing and hectic world. And now, I try to pass the same feeling of stability on to my own children and grandchildren. I want them to know that not only do I love them and pray for them, but most of all, I want them to know God loves them, just like He does you.

Just last evening I was listening to a CD and the song that came on was called, “When He was on the cross, I was on His mind.” It is that audacious love He had for us when He hung on the cross which makes the difference in our lives. I think that is the incredible message of Easter…God loves us!

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for Your love for me. I find it so awesome I was on Your mind as You hung on the cross so long ago. No matter what is going on in my life, I am secure in the comfort and the knowledge You love me. Amen.